Bill > HB290

This bill modifies several Hawaii state laws to establish strict liability for crimes committed against individuals who are 60 years of age or older, specifically addressing assault, unauthorized dwelling entry, theft, and forgery. The bill removes language that previously required the perpetrator to know or reasonably know the victim's age, instead making the age of the victim an automatic factor in determining criminal liability. Under these changes, if a person commits assault, theft, forgery, or unauthorized entry in a dwelling against someone 60 or older, they will be legally responsible regardless of whether they were aware of the victim's age. This means that even if a perpetrator claims they did not know the victim was over 60, they can still be charged and prosecuted under the enhanced provisions. The modifications apply to various sections of Hawaii's Revised Statutes and aim to provide additional legal protections for elderly residents by making it easier to prosecute crimes against them. The bill does not affect legal proceedings or penalties that were already in progress before its implementation and will take effect upon approval.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=290&year=2026